Welcome to the EquiRatings Archive, a treasure trove of timeless tales that celebrate the unique bond between horse and rider, the thrill of competition, and the beauty of this age-old tradition. Here, you'll find an extensive collection of stories from the world of equestrian sports, covering everything in show jumping and eventing.

Main

That&rsquo;s the case with the top 10 Grand Prix Freestyle scores of the 2025 Equestrian Open season so far. Look closely, and a pattern emerges&mdash;one that goes beyond individual performances and starts to show us something bigger.
Adrienne Lyle, Anna Marek, and Kevin Kohmann have delivered 8 of the 10 best freestyle scores of the year. Even more striking? All 10 of the top scores by American riders belong to them. These aren&rsquo;t just one-off wins. They&rsquo;re a data-backed show of dominance and a window into why these riders are leading the conversation as the US Equestrian Open of Dressage barrels toward its Final.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Message Behind the 'Top Ten' Metric</h2>
In sports, a stat tells you what happened. A metric tells you what matters.
The top 10 scores are a stat. Alone, they don&rsquo;t guarantee anything. But when we zoom out&mdash;looking at the names, the consistency, the progression&mdash;they begin to function like a performance metric. And the message they&rsquo;re sending is clear: when it comes to the biggest moments under the brightest lights, Lyle, Marek, and Kohmann are delivering the highest-level performances we&rsquo;ve seen on U.S. soil this season.
Take Adrienne Lyle and Helix. They own the top two scores, both breaking the 80% barrier. Lyle is the only American to do so this season. Her 80.600% at AGDF 10 wasn&rsquo;t just a combination best; it was a statement that her Paris Olympic mount is just getting started.
Marek and Kohmann, meanwhile, have carved out their own stretch of real estate on the leaderboard. Between them, they hold another six of the ten best scores, ranging from Kohmann&rsquo;s 79.240% at the Palm Beach Derby to Marek&rsquo;s 77.755% with Fire Fly back in January. These rides reflect more than isolated talent. They're part of a multi-show arc building toward bigger goals: World Cups, the US Equestrian Open Finals, LA 2028.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-HSoyu" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Top Tests: 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HSoyu/1/" height="707" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Holding the Top Spot on Home Turf</h2>
All ten of the highest-scoring American freestyles this season also belong to Lyle, Marek, or Kohmann. It&rsquo;s easy to overlook how rare that is, especially at a venue like Wellington, where every weekend sees Olympians and international stars take the stage.
Germany&rsquo;s Felicitas Hendricks and Evelyn Eger have reminded American riders that even on home soil, nothing is guaranteed. In Wellington, where the home crowd and familiar footing should offer an edge, they&rsquo;ve shown up and won anyway. Ecuador&rsquo;s Julio Mendoza Loor remains a wildcard threat with the ability to shake up any podium.&nbsp;
But what Lyle, Marek, and Kohmann have done is deliver repeatedly in those same fields, under that same pressure, and still emerged with the season&rsquo;s top scores.
It&rsquo;s a sign that American dressage is entering a new chapter&mdash;one that&rsquo;s penned with competitive intent and inked with momentum. These performances don&rsquo;t close the gap with Europe just yet, but they&rsquo;re proof that the U.S. is building a future that could. The road to LA 2028 starts here.
<h2 dir="ltr">What It All Means</h2>
With only a few qualifiers left, the leaderboard is crowded and unstable. One big ride can still vault a rider into the Final. One no-show could knock someone out. Kohmann sits in a precarious 17th. Lyle looks safe enough in 14th, probably. Marek is comfortably booked on a first-class seat to the Final.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4fd42b30-420d-4f94-b8c6-317e3ddd7b44.png?width=492&amp;height=327" alt="Current leaderboard bubble: Riders ranked 14&ndash;23. Top 18 qualify for the Final."> Current leaderboard bubble: Riders ranked 14&ndash;23. Top 18 qualify for the Final.
That&rsquo;s what makes this top 10 so telling. A blockbuster ride&mdash;or even a collection of them&mdash;doesn&rsquo;t guarantee a spot in the Final. Brilliance matters. Consistent brilliance matters more. But the only real ticket is a mix of timing, strategy, and follow-through. And by those metrics, only one rider has nailed the formula:
Anna Marek.
She looks poised to earn the $12,500 bonus for the leaderboard&rsquo;s top point-earner, but once she arrives in Thermal, the leaderboard is irrelevant. The $200,000 prize is based on one ride, one score, one shot. All that consistency? It gets you to the arena. But it won&rsquo;t win you the check.
<h3 dir="ltr">Want to Dig Deeper?</h3>
Watch the top rides from these three on USEF Network. Follow their progress toward the Final at<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/"> usequestrianopen.org</a>. And keep an eye on the leaderboard because when one of these three steps into the arena, history tends to follow.

dressage horse graphic with black and white background and in color horse trotting away from camera

The Trio at the Top: What the Top 10 Freestyles Say About This Season

Will Coleman, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton, and Caroline Pamukcu - four of the USA&rsquo;s top riders contested this year&rsquo;s CHIO Aachen CCI4*-S.&nbsp;
All four also have previous form at Morven Park CCI4*-L which, in the context of this year&rsquo;s US Equestrian Open Final, is very interesting.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3af96702-3e61-4506-958f-7485e233b15e.png?width=1130&amp;height=1196" alt="Previous Morven Park Cci4*-L Results of the Usa's 2025 Chio Aachen Riders">
Who of the four will target the $200,000 CCI4*-L Final at Morven Park this October? Who will they bring? Will they replicate their previous efforts in the class (if so, each would land well within the prize money)?
<h2 dir="ltr">Will Coleman &amp; Off The Record</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/cec4cf5d-c58c-488e-a77f-9c37a308d7de.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="The bay horse Off The Record and rider Will Coleman during the prize ceremony of CHIO Aachen 2021. Will smiles broadly and pats Off The Record between the ears. A winner's rubbin hangs from the horse's bridle.">
Will Coleman &amp; Off The Record winning CHIO Aachen 2021 - the first and only US winners. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Will and his 2021 CHIO Aachen winner Off The Record were the highest placed US pair at Aachen this weekend, finishing fourth after adding just 0.8 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. They were the second fastest round of the day (after New Zealand's Monica Spencer &amp; Artist who added 0.4 time penalties).
Off The Record first stepped up to the CCI4* level in April 2018. Since then, he has tackled 24 top-level cross-country courses (CCI4*/5*). He has jumped clear in all but one (CHIO Aachen 2023). On metrics, he is ranked in the top 1.0% of CCI4*-L cross-country jumpers and the top 1.3% on speed. A record like that is always a leaderboard threat when cross-country day rolls around, making sure we all remember it&rsquo;s not a dressage competition.
Not particularly known for producing super low dressage scores (unlike his stable mate Chin Tonic HS), Off The Record has nonetheless been competitive with his most recent CCI4* tests. These are his last five CCI4* dressage scores:
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2025 - Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11): 21.8 (went on to win)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Sep 2024 - The Fork at Tryon 4*-S: 30.1 (went on to win)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S:&nbsp;30.1 (finished 3rd)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Stable View 4*-S: 31.2 (finished 4th)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Jun 2023 - CHIO Aachen 4*-S: 28.1 (finished 38th)</li>
</ol>
Of all four previous runnings of the Morven Park CCI4*-L, winning scores have ranged from 29.4 to 34.5. In Off The Record's international career, he's produced 12 top-level finishing scores in that range (and lower). If we do see the US stalwart - and 2022 World team silver medalist -&nbsp; in October, Off The Record will challenge for the top spot. He usually does.
<h2 dir="ltr">Boyd Martin &amp; Commando 3</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/23338cba-f6dd-4f51-ae1a-3ee18a422a9d.jpg?width=5464&amp;height=5504" alt="Boyd Martin smiling while riding Commando 3 in the arena after the prize ceremony at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2024. Commando 3 wears a red ribbon on his bridle and has a pleasant, ears-pricked expression.">
Boyd Martin &amp; Commando 3 placing 2nd at the 2024 Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Boyd and Commando 3 finished fifth in Aachen by adding just 3.2 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. The result boosted Commando 3 to the number four horse for the US right now according to the EquiRatings Elo rating as he holds 721 Elo points.
Currently fifth in the US Equestrian Open standings, Boyd earned 50 of his 135 Series points by winning Stable View (Qualifier 8) with Commando 3. That Qualifier win was the latest of Commando 3&rsquo;s four career international wins, all at CCI4*:
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2025 - Stable View 4*-S (Qualifier 8)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Stable View 4*-S</li>
<li dir="ltr">Oct 2023 - Morven Park 4*-L</li>
<li dir="ltr">Sep 2023 - The Fork at Tryon 4*-S</li>
</ol>
We can&rsquo;t gloss over that Morven Park CCI4*-L win two years ago. It was Boyd on Commando 3 winning what this year will be the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final. Can they replicate in 2025?
<h2 dir="ltr">Phillip Dutton with Possante &amp; Denim</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eff45000-f571-4933-845e-d57611d71c22.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="Black &amp; white image of Phillip Dutton walking toward the camera in his show jumping attire, carrying his show jacket over his forearm and wearing his helmet with the chin-strap undone. He bears a focused expression. ">
Phillip Dutton. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
With&nbsp;Possante, Phillip placed 11th at Aachen. It was Possante&rsquo;s third international appearance this season after finishing third at TerraNova CCI4*-S (Qualifier 6) and second at the Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S (Qualifier 11). At the CCI4*-L level, however, Possante&rsquo;s show jumping has been a challenge; on both of his appearances at the level, he had two rails down on the final day (Boekelo 2024, Tryon 2024).
With Denim, Phillip finished 14th in Aachen. Though younger than Possante (12 YO),&nbsp;Denim (10 YO) has had better CCI4*-L results. Two of his three appearances at the level include an eighth place finish at Blenheim last year after a fifth at Tryon - both times adding just time penalties to his dressage score.&nbsp;
The Blenheim result - eighth out of 78 competitors - was especially impressive and contributed to Denim&rsquo;s rank as the number two 10-year-old in the US right now according to the EquiRatings Elo Rating. The only 10-YO ahead of him is Paris Olympian HSH Blake (Caroline Pamukcu).&nbsp;
Right now, Phillip is our Series leader on 215 points. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/theres-still-a-big-chance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">If he is still atop the leaderboard come season-end</a>, he will earn $25,000 before the Final even rolls around. It&rsquo;s been four years since Phillip has contested the Morven Park CCI4*-L but maybe this year he's planning to carry his Series momentum into even more winnings.
<h2 dir="ltr">Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ee69af69-6c83-4f34-a7bb-0e04703d3444.jpg?width=5728&amp;height=5345" alt="The dark bay horse HSH Blake with Caroline Pamukcu exiting the Kentucky Horse Park dressage arena after their test. Caroline smiles and Blake has a pleasant, ears-pricked expression.">
Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Two rails down on Friday and 18.0 time penalties on Saturday saw Caroline and HSH Blake finishing 27th in Aachen. The pair did however produce the lowest first-phase score of the US combinations and they reclaimed their clear-jumping ways across the country after penalties at the Paris Olympics and 2025 Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S.&nbsp;
When HSH Blake was selected for Paris, it wasn&rsquo;t a big surprise for those of us on the EquiRatings team. We&rsquo;d seen him climbing up our ratings and, as a young horse,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxfc7yjIuPe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">we had him pegged for LA 2028</a> but Paris 2024 was no stretch either. So, because it seems like he&rsquo;s been on our radar forever, it feels weird that Blake has &ldquo;only&rdquo; done eight top-level (CCI4*/5*) events in his career. Starting with TerraNova CCI4*-S in March 2023, he's done six CCI4*-S events including this weekend, the Olympics, and just one CCI4*-L at Tryon 2024.
That one CCI4*-L outing happened to be a 28.6 finish-on-dressage score to secure the win. According to the EquiRatings High Performance Rating (HPR) which quantifies the quality of any given result, it was the pair&rsquo;s best-ever performance (HPR of 98). So, will Blake go to Morven Park 2025? It&rsquo;s a data-set of one, but so far CCI4*-L looks good on him.
<h2>Series Standings as of July 8th, 2025 (After Qualifier 14):</h2>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d157fc24-3f4a-4051-97fd-f08a6dbc9f19.png?width=675&amp;height=844" alt="Current Series Leaders after Qualifier 14 (Maryland Int.)">
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Close-up of the bay horse Off The Record & rider Will Coleman galloping on a cross country course during competition. Both have a look of concentration.

From Germany to Virginia? The USA's CHIO Aachen riders all have previous form at Morven Park CCI4*-L.

In a recent episode of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Podcast, Annie Bishop sat down with eventing star Sharon White and EquiRatings' Diarmuid Byrne to discuss one of the most exciting horses in the sport today &mdash; Jaguars Duende.&nbsp; The US Equestrian Open Podcast is available <a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on all podcast channels here</a> and you can check out Sharon's <a href="https://pod.fo/e/2ac78a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode here.&nbsp;</a>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section">A Mare with Confidence and Character</h2>
Sharon White describes Jaguars Duende as fiercely independent and confident, traits she believes are essential for success.
<blockquote>
"She shows up to work every day. She likes her job, she likes doing things well, and she goes along with my motto: If you're going to do something, do it well. That&rsquo;s what makes her so special &mdash; she finds enjoyment in working hard." 
</blockquote>
Her determination is evident not only in competition but also in training. Sharon enjoys that Jaguars Duende isn&rsquo;t afraid to express herself, even if it means bucking her off every now and then!
<blockquote>
"I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."
"If you&rsquo;re gonna do something, do it well, otherwise don&rsquo;t bother to do it. Which includes bucking me off, by the way! That&rsquo;s one of her favorite things too &mdash; which I love, right? Because I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."
</blockquote>
<h2><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c66e89fb-6000-4eed-9ed9-9ef123b671cb" type="video/mp4"></video></h2>
<h2>A Remarkable Journey from an Unlikely Start</h2>
<blockquote>
"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that.'"
</blockquote>
Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s journey began when Sharon purchased her as a three-year-old, sight unseen. However, she admits her first impressions weren&rsquo;t exactly glowing.
"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that. Just being honest.' And then when she came over, I thought, 'I don&rsquo;t know. I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen.'"
Despite initial doubts, White recognized that Jaguars Duende needed time and patience. She focused on helping her develop confidence and strength rather than rushing her progress. That patience has certainly paid off, as she has developed into one of the most exciting horses in US eventing today.
<blockquote>
"I&rsquo;ve always thought big picture with her. It&rsquo;s not about the immediacy of what you&rsquo;re going to do this weekend. It&rsquo;s: what am I going to do three years from now? That&rsquo;s what really interests me."
</blockquote>
<h2>A Stellar Competition Record</h2>
Jaguars Duende has quickly become one of the sport&rsquo;s most talked-about rising stars. Diarmuid shared the impressive statistics:
<ul class="p-rich_text_list p-rich_text_list__bullet p-rich_text_list--nested" data-stringify-type="unordered-list" data-list-tree="true" data-indent="0" data-border="0">
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">11 international starts, nine podium finishes (the other two starts were withdrawals before cross-country)</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Three wins in her last four competitions</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">A victory in the Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L to close out the 2024 season</li>
</ul>
These numbers are staggering, but White admits she rarely focuses on them.
<blockquote>
"It's hard to read the label when you're inside the box. You don't even realize what's happening until you step back and look at that pile of blue ribbons. I was cleaning out the barn and found this pile of ribbons, and I thought, 'Holy moly, they're all Jags!'"
</blockquote>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section"><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/40daeed9-fdb5-437d-be20-7123a08e2d76" type="video/mp4"></video> The Road Ahead: US Equestrian Open and Beyond</h2>
<blockquote>
"With horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."
</blockquote>
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Jaguars Duende is set to make her first appearance at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bouckaert</a>. While the US Equestrian Open remains a possibility, White emphasizes the journey will be dictated by what Jags tells her.
"The US Equestrian Open is exciting because it brings so much fun into the sport. There&rsquo;s so much talk about it, so much anticipation. You look at the calendar and think, &lsquo;Could this be an option?&rsquo; But with horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."
White&rsquo;s philosophy remains centered on patience and trusting the process. Every step of Jaguars Duende's career has been carefully planned to ensure she moves up when she&rsquo;s ready. With continued growth and strong performances, her future looks incredibly bright.
&nbsp;
<h2>"My Little Pegasus"</h2>
Jaguars Duende is more than just a top competitor; she&rsquo;s a horse with presence, personality, and a devoted team behind her. Sharon White&rsquo;s dedication to her long-term success is evident, and as she steps into 2025, fans will be eagerly following along to see just how far she can go.
<blockquote>
"She doesn&rsquo;t mind digging deep when she has to, and I love that. That&rsquo;s something you need in a great horse. When she started to give me that feeling, I would call her my little Pegasus, because suddenly, she had wings."
</blockquote>
With a stellar track record and a team committed to her development, Jaguars Duende is a name to remember. As the season unfolds, we&rsquo;ll all be watching to see where her journey takes her.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next in the Open?</h2>
Having kicked off in 2024, the US Equestrian Open qualifiers will pick back up in March when the leaderboard battle continues at Bouckaert.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/145ad0e6-6356-4cd4-98f7-394e78b6afdb?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Photo of Sharon White during an awards ceremony. She is seen from the torso up behind her horse's ears, who she sits on while smiling very broadly, still in her show jumping kit.

Jaguars Duende: Sharon White on Her Rising Star of US Eventing

Open weekly graphic featuring the US Nations Cup Team

The Open Weekly: Aachen Week & the 100th Aga Khan

For the second time this season, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage unfolds on both coasts, with qualifiers at Pacific Coast Dressage in Temecula, California, and TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Florida. Only six qualifiers remain before the Finals in November, and leaderboard points are at a premium.
This weekend could bring a pivotal shift in the Series standings. Two-time winner Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn is chasing a historic third victory. Ben Ebeling looks to solidify his Finals contention. Kristina Harrison-Antell and Devon Kane are poised to break into the top ranks. Eline Eckroth&rsquo;s strategy could vault her into third overall. And G&uuml;nter Seidel aims to secure his Finals ticket with a promising new mount.
As the leaderboard&rsquo;s Top 18 cutoff tightens, every percentage point matters.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-Fo3Dv" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Current US Equestrian Open standings - 30th April 2025" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Fo3Dv/2/" height="554" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Vaughn Chases a Record Third Win</h2>
Two victories earlier this year propelled Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn into a three-way tie for the series lead this spring. She currently sits 19th after missing recent qualifiers, but another strong finish would push her safely into Finals qualification. Since returning from the FEI World Cup Final in Basel &mdash; where Vaughn and Gino earned a respectable 73.765% in their World Cup Finals debut &mdash; she now makes her first US Equestrian Open appearance since February. All eyes will be on the pair&rsquo;s return this weekend.
Because of the small field size, simply completing her freestyle will be enough to move Vaughn into the Top 18 &mdash; displacing another rider from Finals contention. A win at Galway Downs this weekend would also make her the first three-time qualifier winner this season. Gino&rsquo;s current freestyle average stands at 73.051%, with a personal best of 75.150%.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-py3IH" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Pacific Coast CDI" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/py3IH/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Ebeling Targets Another Win</h2>
Ben Ebeling and Bellena made a statement at their only US Equestrian Open outing this season, taking the win with a 75.740%. Though Ebeling sits outside the Top 18 due to limited starts, another high-scoring win at TerraNova would put him within striking distance. One more qualifier after this would make him a serious Finals threat. It&rsquo;s not just about qualifying, either. With scoring power already demonstrated, Ebeling could pose a legitimate challenge to current series leader Anna Marek when the Finals roll around.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-zzV5v" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage 3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/zzV5v/1/" height="597" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaderboard Movement Mayhem</h2>
On the East Coast, Charlotte Jorst, Devon Kane, and Eline Eckroth are all poised to make leaderboard moves at TerraNova.
Jorst and Zhaplin Langholt return to the entry list this weekend. She has competed in three qualifiers this season, winning at Gold Coast and finishing fourth in the same event where Ebeling claimed victory. Because of the smaller field sizes this week, simply completing her freestyle will earn Jorst enough points to move into the Top 18 &mdash; pushing out one of the current riders.
Devon Kane and Vamos are projected to finish third at TerraNova based on their average of 73.193%. A result in that range would push Kane solidly into the Top 10, a significant jump after spending much of the season hovering around the leaderboard bubble.
Eline Eckroth, who has quietly climbed the standings through tactical scheduling, stands to benefit once again. Though her freestyle averages remain modest at 69.680%, simply completing her ride &mdash; even in last place &mdash; will earn enough points to surpass Karen Lipp and take over third place in the overall standings.
While the East Coast riders aim to solidify or improve their positions, the West Coast lineup is poised for even bigger leaderboard shifts.
Kristina Harrison-Antell, who won the last West Coast qualifier, also returns this weekend. If she finishes third or better, she will move into second overall in the Series standings, ending the long hold Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger has had on the runner-up position since Week 8.
G&uuml;nter Seidel brings a new mount, Jack, to the freestyle arena. While Jack has limited experience at this level, his recent Grand Prix Special results suggest he&rsquo;s ready for the challenge. Seidel is projected to finish fourth this weekend, which would earn him 15 points &mdash; enough to secure a place inside the Top 10 and comfortably above the Top 18 cut line.
Tune in to the USEF Network this weekend for coast-to-coast action as the US Equestrian Open of Dressage continues its thrilling march toward the Finals. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for free</a>!
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

black dressage horse going into an arena 

Leaderboard Drama Looms at Qualifier 17

The Prediction Center has its favorites: Miks Master C, Off The Record, Shanroe Cooley, and Possante are the names most expected to fill the podium. But in a sport where winning is always the exception, not the rule, even the top picks aren&rsquo;t guaranteed.
At Morven Park, the numbers tell the story: fewer than half of starters have gone clear cross country and just eight combinations have made the time from the 80 to set out. A polished dressage test might earn attention, but it&rsquo;s cross country pace and precision that will land you on the podium.
So, who else should we be watching? Here are three under-the-radar combinations who tick the boxes this course demands. And yes - it&rsquo;s all girl power.
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">Caroline Pamukcu &ndash; HSH Double Sixteen</h3>
Caroline Pamukcu might be sitting with less than a 1% win chance according to the numbers, but don't let that fool you. Her mount HSH Double Sixteen has something special: speed. With a Top Speed Percentage (TSP) of 94%, this combination is the second-fastest in the class.
Their recent form is what stands out. Just last week at Stable View 4*, they jumped double clear to finish on their dressage score of 33.4 to win. Even more impressive? Caroline became only the second rider in five years to make the optimum time.
Double Sixteen is just 10 years old, which means there's still room to improve. While the dressage scores have been slightly high (6RA of 37.4), if Caroline can reproduce that 33.4 from Stable View and the time proves decisive at Morven Park, this young horse could make a serious climb up the leaderboard.
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">Tamie Smith &ndash; Kynan</h3>
With a 6% win chance, Tamie Smith and Kynan have more respect from the prediction models centre&nbsp; but are still an under-rated combination. Kynan's six-run average sits at 30.4, but this horse frequently scores in the 20s, which could put them right in contention after dressage.
The cross-country record is a bit mixed (50% XCJ10), but when this pair gets it right, they get it very right. At their last 4*L, they jumped double clear to finish just off the podium in fourth place. Tamie's show jumping record with Kynan is spotless over the last six outings.
Perhaps most importantly, Tamie knows how to win at Morven Park - she took the title here in 2022. That kind of course knowledge and experience is invaluable.
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">Jennie Brannigan &ndash; Kismet</h3>
At less than 1% win chance, Jennie Brannigan and Kismet are a dark horse. But dig into the data, and you'll find a combination perfectly suited for Morven Park's demands.
Kismet boasts a perfect 100% XCJ10 record and a top speed percentage of 93% - one of the highest in the entire field. Yes, some of those metrics come from the level below, but the horse's second-ever 4* start in July saw them jump clear and inside the time, proving they can handle the step up.
For Brannigan, this marks her 30th 4*L start - an experienced pilot on a horse still finding his feet at the top level. The dressage scores at four-star suggest there's still some work to do, but if they can deliver a solid jumping performance across both phases, they could easily outperform expectations.
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">The Verdict</h3>
Morven Park rewards horses that are brave, fast, and careful and riders who know when to push and when to play it safe. While the favorites will certainly be competitive, these three combinations have the profiles to thrive. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Dark Horses to Watch: Who Could Surprise at Morven Park

Kent Farrington has done what only Kent Farrington has ever done before. With victory in the $340,000 CSI5* Grand Prix of Greenwich aboard Toulayna, the world no. 1 secured his eighth five-star Grand Prix/World Cup triumph of 2025, matching the unprecedented tally he first set in 2017.
<h2>History Repeats Itself, With a Twist</h2>
In the modern era of show jumping, consistency at the very top is one of the sport&rsquo;s hardest currencies. Since 2010, no rider other than Farrington has managed to amass eight five-star Grand Prix or World Cup wins in a single calendar year. Martin Fuchs (2019) and McLain Ward (2010) came close, but only Farrington has scaled the summit. Twice.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ea454955-bc3b-41c8-b0b3-aed61501a437.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Usef Jumping Graphics 2025 (21)">
This latest victory in Greenwich, achieved by just three-hundredths of a second over Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V., was the perfect snapshot of what makes Farrington unstoppable: speed, precision, and the nerve to execute under pressure.
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<h2>Greya Joins the Legends</h2>
It isn&rsquo;t just Farrington rewriting history this year, his superstar mare Greya is doing the same. With her latest Grand Prix win in Williamsburg, the 11-year-old Oldenburg (Colestus x Contender) captured her sixth five-star victory of 2025, matching the legendary record set by Gazelle in 2017. Remarkably, both mares have been guided to these milestone seasons by Farrington, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest championship managers of horses in modern show jumping. With history still unfolding, Greya&rsquo;s campaign could yet surpass Gazelle&rsquo;s benchmark and stand alone at the very top.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/204b935d-44bc-4581-ad1c-99937e60f2a6.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="1">
<h2>Rivalries and Records</h2>
Farrington and Bluman have been locked in a season-long battle across Major League Show Jumping and beyond, trading blows in Toronto, Traverse City, and now Greenwich. While Bluman once again pushed him to the limit, Farrington&rsquo;s composure in the jump-off brought his season tally to an extraordinary eight wins.
Behind the stats lies a remarkable storyline: Farrington&rsquo;s triumphs have come aboard multiple horses, led by Greya, with whom he has taken 6 of those wins and Toulayna, the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare co-owned with Rabbit Root Stables. The mares&rsquo; blend of scope and speed has been the cornerstone of Farrington&rsquo;s dominance in 2025.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2f5016af-b017-4a7f-92b4-8eb6707474d8.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="2">
<h2>The Making of a Modern Legend</h2>
What sets Farrington apart isn&rsquo;t just his ability to win, it&rsquo;s his ability to do it again, and again, across different arenas, continents, and lineups of the world&rsquo;s best. From Wellington to Traverse City, from Toronto to Greenwich, 2025 has been a masterclass in sustained brilliance.
Eight five-star Grand Prix victories in one year is a number most riders can scarcely imagine. For Kent Farrington, it is not just a record, it is a signature.

Eight and Great: Kent Farrington Rewrites the Record Books

In only her second Grand Prix Freestyle as a senior, accomplished 21-year-old Erin Nichols earned her first international freestyle victory at TerraNova, scoring 72.140% aboard her 16-year-old KWPN gelding, Elian Royale. While this marks a new milestone at the senior level, Nichols is no stranger to the spotlight&mdash;she&rsquo;s a former triple gold medalist at the North American Youth Championships and a winner of multiple international U25 classes, including freestyle victories on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nichols placed second in Friday&rsquo;s Grand Prix with a 68.848%, just behind USA&rsquo;s Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (69.109%). While Ebeling opted to ride in the Grand Prix Special, it was Nichols and Eline Eckroth contesting the Freestyle the next day.
While not an overall personal best, the 72.140% is right in line with Nichols&rsquo; average across her freestyle performances&mdash;most of which came during her successful run in the Under 25 ranks. That makes this weekend&rsquo;s test a senior-level personal best, and an important benchmark as she builds her r&eacute;sum&eacute; at the top level. Although the field was small, the win is a clear milestone for Nichols, who has her sights set on future U.S. team appearances and dreams of representing her country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
<h2>Eckroth Climbs the Leaderboard</h2>
Eckroth&rsquo;s second-place finish&mdash;earned in a modestly contested class&mdash;was enough to propel her from 11th to 4th in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings. She edges out early-season favorite Felicitas Hendricks, who is likely returning to Germany now that the Wellington circuit has wrapped. Like Karen Lipp, currently ranked third overall, Eckroth is gaining ground through consistent 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes at smaller shows. It&rsquo;s a reminder that Series points don&rsquo;t always come from big wins&mdash;smart scheduling can pay off, especially with cash prizes going to the top 18 riders at the end of the qualifiers. The biggest payday, however, will come at the Finals, where those top 18 will face off in Thermal, California, this November.
<h2>Ocala Could Shake Things Up</h2>
The TerraNova weekend may have featured a small field, but it gave Nichols another career milestone to add to her already impressive resume. It also shuffled the standings in favor of Eckroth, who will compete again next weekend against third-place rider Karen Lipp at the World Equestrian Center&rsquo;s CDI4* Freestyle. With the two riders only four points apart, Ocala&rsquo;s outing could significantly reshape the leaderboard&mdash;potentially even knocking Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger out of second place.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

Horse and rider trot away from the camera in an upper level dressage test.

Nichols Claims First Senior Freestyle Victory at TerraNova

Last weekend at The Fork,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoEwwLDYCw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boyd Martin soared to the top of the Open leaderboard</a> after securing a 120-point haul. Phillip Dutton, on 215 points, is now sitting pretty in second place. But, while Boyd is fairly out of reach this late in the Series, Phillip&nbsp;can be caught and if he is, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it will cost him $5,000</a>.
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Prize money come Series end:
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">1st - $25,000</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;">2nd - $15,000</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;">3rd - $10,000</li>
</ul>
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One rider with a good shot at catching Phillip is&nbsp;James Alliston.&nbsp;
James is competing in this weekend's Qualifier 18 - Twin Rivers - and&nbsp;he&rsquo;s won the last five editions of the event.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9b4f52ba-a85f-4a2a-84c1-76355322fce3.png?width=1190&amp;height=1670" alt="Last 10 Winners of Twin Rivers Cci4 S">&nbsp;
This time, James brings forward a CCI4* first-timer,&nbsp;HMR Rolan. But looking at Rolan&rsquo;s results, so far he has handled everything in stride. James has taken Rolan around four internationals and, across all four, Rolan has added just 4 penalties to his dressage score, just a single rail. That&rsquo;s it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5b88af88-2748-4fa6-9b81-40791d070065.png?width=1400&amp;height=736" alt="Cm Ob F Hmr Rolan S International Appearances (1)">
On their latest outing last month - a national event - James and Rolan were crowned USEA Open Intermediate Champions and before that, they finished second in the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-L.
Now, facing Rolan's first CCI4*, the pair compete against five other combinations and according to EquiRatings Predictive Analytics,<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/twinriverssep2025/predictions--records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> they have a 35% chance of winning</a>.
That&rsquo;s important because a win here would take James from 145 Series points to 185 points and equal third in the Series.
Then, after Twin Rivers, there is one last qualifier on the West Coast - Qualifier 20: Woodside. The Woodside Fall International is an event James has started 24 times before, including two entries in the CCI2*-S last year. He hasn&rsquo;t contested the CCI4*-S there since 2020 but he may be incentivized to enter this year - given the horse power - if it gives him a chance to secure more Open winnings.&nbsp;
<h1>The Scenario</h1>
Say James wins Twin Rivers this weekend to sit on 185 points coming into Woodside. To then catch Phillip on 215, James would need to place third or higher at Woodside (30+ Series points) to meet or exceed Phillip. Now, from 2020 onward, the number of Woodside 4*-S starters has ranged from 2 (2024) to 15 (2020), so placing third this year may be more or less straightforward depending on the number of this year&rsquo;s entries.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h1>Other Challengers</h1>
Another qualifier going on this weekend is the East Coast&rsquo;s Plantation Field. Of that field, Caroline Pamukcu and Jennie Brannigan are the two that could join James in a race for the Open podium.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2e11d825-95cc-4c7c-8ac9-a0d18a33031a.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="West Side Story leaderboard notations"> 
All to say, the Series ain't over. The checks aren&rsquo;t written. Stay tuned.
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<h1>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs">
<h3>Current Series Standings (Sep 18, 2025):</h3>
See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dfc13b24-b6dc-4dab-ac88-91d5d46150e5.png?width=721&amp;height=557" alt="Eventing Leaderboard as of 18 Sep 2025">
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Image of James Alliston jumping the dark bay horse Karma over a cross country fence during competition.

West Side Story

With just 0.04 percentage points separating them, Week 10&rsquo;s qualifier was a tight battle for first place. Ultimately, Julio Mendoza Loor took the win aboard his Paris Games mount, Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike, despite a music error that forced them to restart their test. New to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifiers&mdash;but not new to the sport&mdash;Mendoza Loor rode to an upbeat, bold soundtrack, earning a score of 75.860%. Finishing second was Anna Marek aboard Fayvel, a 14-year-old gelding. This finish puts Marek and the US flag back atop the leaderboard.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e9eaf549-50ba-4fec-995a-c082ff590f4c.png?width=491&amp;height=496" alt="Top 5 riders in the US Open of Dressage as of Feb 9, 2025. (1) Anna Marek (2) Evelyn Eger (2) Karen Lipp (4) Denielle Gallagher (5) Felicitas Hendricks">
Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s high-energy freestyle music particularly suited &ldquo;Goldie&rsquo;s&rdquo; trot work. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding scored exceptionally well in the piaffe and passage, earning 8.0s from most judges. A stumble during one of the flying changes cost them a few marks, likely making the final score even closer than it would have been otherwise. This marked their return to competition after placing 27th individually at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
&ldquo;There were a lot of highlights tonight in the test,&rdquo; Mendoza Loor said. &ldquo;After the line of the one-tempis, he was really there in what I was asking him to do. His performance was amazing."
Marek, fresh off a second-place finish in Wellington last weekend on Fire Fly, delivered a strong test to a freestyle featuring the punchy, rhythmic &lsquo;BOOM&rsquo; by X Ambassadors and the playful, offbeat &lsquo;Coincidance&rsquo; by Handsome Driver. Her ride was remarkably consistent, with no movement receiving lower than a 7.0 from any judge.
The 0.04 percentage point margin between first and second place is the smallest in Series history, breaking the previous record of 0.210 percentage points, which was also set by Marek&mdash;though that time aboard Fire Fly&mdash;when she narrowly edged out Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee at Global Dressage Festival 3.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-LMZSy" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Winning MarginsUS Equestrian Open Dressage Qualifiers" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LMZSy/1/" height="539" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Range Plot" data-external="1"></iframe>
This second-place finish earned Marek 17 points in the Series standings, cementing her position at the top of the leaderboard. With the Final in Thermal, CA, this November, her focus is now on maintaining that lead as the qualifiers near their halfway point.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next&nbsp;</h2>
The back-to-back qualifiers return to Wellington this weekend for Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10&rsquo;s CDI5*&mdash;a highly anticipated competition in Florida&rsquo;s winter circuit. The entry list is stacked, with top combinations poised to shake up the standings: Adrienne Lyle on Helix, Anna Marek on Fayvel, Evelyn Eger on Tabledance 3, Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD, Kevin Kohmann on D&uuml;nensee, Tinne Vilhelmson&nbsp;Silfv&eacute;n&nbsp;on Devanto, and Julio Mendoza Loor on Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike.&nbsp;
With Marek, Eger, and Hendricks separated by fewer than 20 points, the battle for the top spot is far from over.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b0ba4a7e-31a4-4a11-a147-7faa41ac9f1d.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2025 US Open of Dressage">

A bay horse in a double bridle walks out of the arena after a dressage test. 

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